Improvement in fire-escapes



J. c. VMouw:n` FIREAESCABE.

N0.17Z,147. Patented Jan. lll, 1876.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES C. MOORE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-ESCAPES.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 172,147, dated January 11, 1876; application filed June 18, 1875. n

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES O. MOORE, of Philadelphia, ill thel county ofPhiladelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby decla-re the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompany-- ing drawings, whichform part of this speciiication, in which-m Figure l is a front elevation, and Fig. 2 a vertical section, of abuilding with myimprovements applied. Figs. 3 and 4f are detail views.

The object ot' my invention is to provide means whereby a iire-escape composed of a wire or rope ladder, wound on a drum or cylinder at or near the roof of a house, may be caused to unwind and fall into position hy the occupa-nt of any lower story of the house.

My invention consists, essentially, in the combination, with a Weighted iire-escape ladder, of a rod or other equivalent means for liberating' the drum on which said ladder is rolled, so as to permit the lat-ter to unwind and take position accessible from any part of the house, said rod extending from the drum to any or all of the lower stories, so that it may be operated by any of the occupants thereof.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, A shows a house or store to whichmy improved fire-escape has been applied. Bis a drum or cylinder, mounted in suitable bearings just below the roof a. U represents a rope or Wire ladder, one end of which is securely attached to the drum B, its other end being provided with a weight, c, to cause said ladder to uuwind and run down to the ground when the drum is free to revolve. D represents a ratchet fast on the drum-shaft, and E a pawl engaging therewith and held down by a spring, e. The pawl is pivoted at el, and connected at e2 with a rod or other equivalent attachment, F. The rod F extends downwardly, as shown, through the various doors and ceilings of the tenement, being bent to form or provided with handles Gr G, by which it may be drawn down by any of the occupants of the various stories. H represents a pinion, having a winch or handle, li', and gearing with a cog-wheel, I, on the drum, by means of which the ladder may be wound up. Ordinarily, the ladder remains wound on the drum, the weight c reposing from view beneath a projecting hollowr sill or cornice, K. When a fire occurs the ladder may be instantly unwound by the occupant of any of the floors by drawing down upon the rod F by means ot' any of the handles G G. The downward motion of the rod F releases the pawl E from engagement with the ratchet D, when the gravity ot' the Weight causes the ladder to unwind and run down to the ground, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

What I claim as my invention is- The rod F, extending' through the various doors and ceilings, so as to be accessible from any of the stories, in combination with the drum B, for holding the ladder C, said drum having a spring-pawl, F, and ratchet or equivalent retaining device, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my handthis 9th day of June, 1875.

JAMES G. MOORE.

Witnesses:

Jos. B. CoNNoLLY, CEAS. F. VAN HORN. 

